Must-Play Questlines Before The End

For many players, World of Warcraft Classic is the definitive MMORPG experience. A far cry from the modernized version of the game, World of Warcraft Classic is difficult, complex, and there’s little in-game guidance for quests and locations. It’s a game all about discovery with rewards for players who delve a little below the surface.

Among all the hundreds of questlines in World of Warcraft Classic, some stand out for their beautiful writing, their revealing plotlines, or their unique (and sometimes game-breaking) rewards. For fans returning to the 17-year-old MMO, several quests in the game reference later expansions, serving as prequels of events yet to come.

Updated November 23, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: The best WoW Classic quests tend to expand the game’s world, tell a unique story, or otherwise prove players with an experience they won’t soon forget. Not every WoW Classic quest is a banger, but some of the best WoW quests you should complete before reaching the endgame are genuinely worth going out of your way for. This guide to the best WoW Classic quests has been updated to include one memorable quest from the Undead starting zone: The Prodigal Lich. The Forsaken were once Human, and this quest reminds players that the bonds made in life persist through death – quite literally – as you convince a lone Undead to join the Forsaken.

11 The Prodigal Lich

Connect Lost Friends & Learn About The Forsaken

• Location: Tirisfal Glades
• Faction: Horde Exclusive

The Prodigal Lich is one of the last quests players can take on in the Tirisfal Glades zone as a low level Undead. This is one of the best WoW Classic quests because it elaborates on the Forsaken’s origins as former servants to the Lich King and touches on memories of life that all Forsaken have.

In this quest, players are sent by the Mage Bethor Iceshard, located in the Undercity, to find a lone Undead necromancer named Gunther Arcanus on an island in north-eastern Tirisfal Glades. The thing is, most of the Forsaken broke away from the Lich King’s control at the same time and banded together, while Gunther Arcanus broke free on his own – and has been on his own ever since.

After convincing him to join the Forsaken, Gunther will appear in front of Bethor and the two will reminisce about old times and memories of life. It’s one of the most interesting quests in terms of worldbuilding and serves as one of the first quests in WoW that shows the unity of the Forsaken and all undead who have broken free from the same bonds.

10 Lost In Battle

Where’s Mankrik’s Wife?

• Location: The Barrens
• Faction: Horde Exclusive

Lost In Battle, also known as the Mankrik’s Wife quest, is a well-known Horde quest in The Barrens. Lost In Battle takes the player across the Barrens on a search for Mankrik’s wife following a deadly battle.

While it’s a low-level quest, don’t expect it to be easy; many fans say this quest is the reason Barrens chat became so chaotic back in the day. Play this storyline to experience one of the most referenced quests in World of Warcraft, and be prepared to search far and wide across one of the game’s largest zones to find Mankrik’s Wife.

9 The Legend of Stalvan

A Legendary Alliance-Only Quest Chain

• Location: Duskwood
• Faction: Alliance Exclusive

The Legend of Stalvan takes place all across the Alliance beginner zones, making for a quest that really hammers in the exploration aspect of World of Warcraft Classic. The quest starts in Duskwood but takes the player to Westfall, Elwynn Forest, Stormwind, and several smaller locales in each zone.

The Legend of Stalvan has amazing writing, an intriguing story, and rewards the player with a half-decent axe or ring upon completion. A small group is necessary for the last part of the quest chain, though, as Stalvan himself is a tough enemy.

8 Sully Ballou

A Real-Life Reference To The U.S. Civil War

• Location: Arathi Highlands
• Faction: Alliance Exclusive

Sully Ballou is one of the few quests in World of Warcraft Classic that references real-life events and history directly. The quest begins in the north of the Arathi Highlands on a corpse beneath a bridge and asks the player to return an unsent letter to the dead dwarf’s wife in Ironforge.

The letter is particularly eloquent and moving, and it was based on the final letter Union Officer Sullivan Ballou wrote to his wife Sarah before his death one week later. It’s a must-do quest for any Alliance player willing to spend the time to find the corpse.

7 Helcular’s Revenge

Get Revenge On Southshore

• Location: Hillsbrad Foothills
• Faction: Horde Exclusive

This quest can be frustrating to complete, but the reward is unmatched. Helcular’s Revenge is a horde-only quest that starts in the north of the Hillsbrad Foothills near Tarren Mill. The player is tasked to charge the Rod of Helcular, then re-animate the dead lich at full strength.

Helcular’s gravesite is watched by guards, however, and most people will likely die a few times just to access the final part of the quest. Once Helcular is risen, though, players can just sit back and enjoy the show as the lich takes his vengeance upon Southshore guards and gamers alike.

6 Forbidden Knowledge

Earn The Skull Of Impending Doom

• Location: Badlands
• Faction: N / A (both)

Forbidden Knowledge is the final quest in The Star, The Hand, and the Heart quest chain, which begins in Ironforge or Undercity and takes the player to the Badlands. This quest is not particularly notable for its story or pop culture references, but rather for its unique and game-breaking reward.

Upon completing the quest, the player is given the Skull of Impending Doom, which increases movement speed significantly at the cost of health and mana. This is a particularly great item for PvP players, as it also breaks crowd control and only has a 5-minute cooldown.

5 Snapjaws, Mon!

A Rare Fishing Quest With A Great Reward

• Location: The Hinterlands
• Faction: Horde Exclusive

This quest is available to Horde players only, and the reward for completion will make Alliance fishermen very jealous. Nat Pagle’s Extreme Angler FC-5000 gives the user a +25 fishing skill while equipped, far greater than any other fishing rod in the game – and all the player has to do is kill 15 nearby turtles.

If fishing sounds like a fun way to pass the time in World of Warcraft Classic, consider picking up this quick quest on the east coast of The Hinterlands.

4 The Great Masquerade

Bruce Willis Was Onyxia The Whole Time

• Location: Stormwind
• Faction: Alliance Exclusive

Considered one of the most iconic World of Warcraft Classic quests, The Great Masquerade is part of the Alliance attunement questline for Onyxia’s Lair. Without spoiling the story, this quest brings the player into the inner circles of Stormwind royalty to uncover a devious plot against the city.

Players should be prepared for a fight and should make sure Stormwind Keep isn’t under attack before beginning this questline. Otherwise, it will be much harder and more time-consuming to complete.

3 The Linken Questline

It’s Dangerous To Go To Un’Goro Alone

• Location: Un’Goro Crater
• Faction: N / A (both)

The Linken questline is one of the most well-known pop-culture references in World of Warcraft Classic. It begins in Un’Goro Crater with a mysterious wrecked raft and takes the player through a questline full of The Legend of Zelda references. The quest chain itself has several steps named after classic Zelda quotes, like “It’s Dangerous To Go Alone” and “It’s A Secret To Everybody.”

This quest is open to both the Alliance and Horde, but players will have to find the wrecked raft first (hint: directly southeast of Fire Plume Ridge).

2 Pamela’s Doll

A Genuinely Sad Questline In WoW Classic

• Location: Eastern Plaguelands
• Faction: N / A (both)

Pamela’s Doll, and the Battle of Darrowshire, is one of the most beautifully written quests available in World of Warcraft Classic. It starts in the south of the Eastern Plaguelands and tells a story of childish innocence, a family’s mistakes, and ultimately a father’s redemption.

The lore of World of Warcraft is intricate and complex, with many iconic storylines. Pamela’s Doll still stands out as one of the few quests in the vanilla game that might make a player weep.

1 Tirion Fordring’s Prequel Questline

Hey, It’s That Guy!

• Location: Western Plaguelands
• Faction: N / A (both)

The name Tirion Fordring might sound familiar to fans returning to World of Warcraft Classic, as he was the wielder of the legendary Ashbringer and Commander of the Argent Crusade during Wrath of the Lich King. Tirion Fordring’s questline starts in the Eastern Plaguelands and serves as a prequel story to one of the game’s most iconic heroes.

Tirion’s questline takes the player through a variety of areas throughout the Plaguelands, even into the Stratholme dungeon. Completing the quest chain rewards the player with a choice between several very powerful items, some of which are the best-in-slot for several classes.